Apparatus for transmitting power



(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

T. A. EDISON.

- APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING POWER.

No. 436,970. Patented Sept. 23, 1890.

(No Model.)

2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

T. A. EDISON. APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING POWER.

Patented Sept. 23, 1890.,

w vtwaooao UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS A. EDISON, OF LLEWVELLYN PARK, NEW JERSEY.

APPARATUS FOR TRANSMITTING POWER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Fatent No. 436,970, datedSeptember 23, 1890.

I Application filed June 10,1890. Serial No. 354,946. (No model.)

To an whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, THOMAS A. EDISON, a citizen of the UnitedStates,residing at Llewellyn Park, in the county of Essex and State ofNew Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Apparatus forTransmitting Power, (Case No. 804 of which the following is aspecification.

My invention relates more particularly to gearing for driving machineryby electric motors, and especially to the propulsion of cars by suchmotors, although it is applicable, generally, as a mechanical movement.

The invention consists in the several novel elements of the gearing andin the various novel combinations of such elements, all as fullyhereinafter explained.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereof, Figure 1 is aperspective view of a simple form of the improved epicyclic train whichforms an element of my gearing; Fig. 2, a similar View of a form of theepicyclic train, inwhich the differentially-actin g wheels rotate in thesame direction; Fig. 3, a top view showing the employment of a pluralityof ropes or belts with the epicyclic train; Fig. 4, a top viewillustrating the preferred application of the gearing to the propulsionof cars.

The improved form of epicyclic train, which forms one of the principalfeatures of invention, is one employing transmitting ropes or beltsinstead of engaging cogs. In its simplest form, Fig. 1, itis composed oftwo wheels A B, mounted loosely on a shaft 0 and rotating in parallelplanes. Between the wheels there projects from the shaft an arm a, whichis fixed to the shaft and has at its outer end a cross-bar b, whichcarries two wheels E F. These wheels E F are thus located on one side ofthe center of the wheels A B and are tangential thereto. An endless ropeor belt G passes around the wheels A B and E F, as shown. Assuming thatpower is applied to the wheels A B so as to produce rotation of suchwheels in opposite directions, as shown by the arrows in Fig. 1, if thewheels A B rotate with the same speed the wheels E F will turn, but theshaft C will remain at rest. Now if the wheel A rotates faster than thewheel B the belt speed of the latter will be less than of the former,and the latter will not supply the rope or belt fast enough for theformer, and the arm a will be carried around in the same direction asthat in which the wheel A rotates with a speed proportional to thedifference in speed between the wheels A and B, and thus the shaft 0will be turned.

If the wheel B rotates faster than the wheel I to the former, whether itoperates one or both' wheels, and in the latter case, whether the wheelsturn in the same or in opposite directions. The train withbelt-connected wheels can be run at a higher speed than one withcog-wheels, produces little noise, and is a more practical gearing inmany ways. Like the epicyclic train composed of cog-wheels, it may beused in all the ways indicated or in any other manner within the rangeof its utility. To revolve the wheels A and B of Fig. 1 in oppositedirections from a shaft would require the use of a crossed rope-belt forone of the wheels, or an intermediate cog-wheel, if cogwheels wereemployed for the connections.

In the form of my improved epicyclic train shown in Fig. 2 the wheels AB when rotated in the same direction produce the same effect as when thewheels AB of Fig. l are rotated in opposite directions. This isaccomplished by reversing the application of the rope or belt G to oneof the wheels A or B by the intervention of an additional pair ofintermediate wheels E F, which are mounted on the cross-bar b of an arma, projecting from the shaft 0 in line with the arm a, butin thediametrically-opposite direction. The additional pair of intermediatewheels forms an additional element in the connection between the mainwheels, having the effect of reversing the direction of rotation, asdoes an additional wheel when introduced into a simple train.

WVhen the wheels A and B of Fig. 2 rotate with equal speed in the samedirection, as indicated by the arrow, the shaft 0 remains at rest. Ifthe wheel A revolves faster than the wheel B, (the rope being reversedon the tion reverse to the rotation of the wheel A.

' the transmission of the power.

If the wheel B is the faster, the shaft 0 will rotate in the samedirection as the wheels. It will be seen that since the direction oftravel of the rope G is reversed on the wheel A one wheel A or B willonly give rope to the other when they are rotating in the same directionor with unequal speed in the opposite direction. If the wheels A and Bof Fig. 2 were rotated with the same speed in the opposite direction,one would not deliver any rope to the other and the shaft 0 wouldrevolve with a'positive speed equal to that of the wheels. \Vith thearrangement of Fig. 1 this only can happen when the wheels A and B arerotated with equal speed in the same direction.

. WVhen made either in the simpler or more complex form, the epicyclictrain may be provided with a plurality of ropes or belts, in order togive sufficient tractive surface for This may be convenientlyaccomplished, as illustrated in Fig. 3, by the employment of additionalmain and intermediate wheels II I, of smaller diameter, placed withinthe larger wheels. In this way as many ropes as desired may be employed.

The operation of a driven shaft 0 from an electric motor by my gearingis illustrated in Fig. 8, the shaft being shown as a car-axle having thecar-wheels K upon its ends. The

' epicyclic train is mounted directly upon the caraxle. The wheel A issecured to a sleeve 0, upon which is also a pulley M, while the wheel Bis upon a sleeve (1, provided with a pulley N.

O is the electric motor mounted upon the car or upon its truck in anysuitable way, and having pulleys P Q upon its armature-shaft connected,by ropes or belts e f with the pulleys M N. The pulleys M and P areexpanding pulleys, which are adjusted simultaneously in oppositedirections by a centrallypivoted bar R, moved by the driver of the carby means of an endless chain and sprocketwheels, one of which is .uponthe pivot of the bar R and the other upon a vertical shaft having acrank-handle within reach of the driver. By means of the expandingpulleys the speed of the wheel A can be changed so as to be greater orless than that of the wheel B.

If the simpler form of the epicyclic trainsuch as shown in Fig. l-wereemployed, one of the belts e or f would need to be a crossed belt. Sincefor railroad work, and possibly for other uses, some device would berequired to prevent wearing of the ropes where they cross, the form ofepicyelic train having the main wheels rotating in'the same direction ispreferred. That form is illustrated in Fig. 8,

and both belts e and fare shown as direct belts. Th'e'gearing is made toaccomplish all the operations of starting the car slowly and running itin either direction by the movement of the pivoted barR, and theadjustment thereby of the pulleysM P, by which the speed relations ofthe main wheels of the epicyclio train are changed.

In my Case No. 863 (application Serial No. 354,306) I have shown agearing involving the driving of opposite sides of an epieyclic ordifferential train from the same electric inotor, and the changing ofthe speed relations of the wheels of the epicyclic or difierential trainby varying the connection of one side of the train with the electricmotor. I do not therefore claim that subject-matter herein.

hat I claim is 1. In power-transmitting apparatus, an epicyclic ordifferential train having belt-connections between its wheels,substantially as set forth.

2. In power-transmitting apparatus, an epicyclic or differential trainhaving, in combination with main belt-wheels rotating in parallel planesand turning loosely upon ashaft, intermediate belt-wheels mounted on anarm fixed to the shaft and placed tangential to the main wheels, and anendless belt passing around the main wheels and the intermediate wheels,substantially as set forth.

3. In power-transmitting apparatus, an epicyclic or differential trainhaving belt-connections between its wheels and provided with additionalintermediate wheels, so as to permit the main wheels of the train torotate in the same direction, substantially as set forth.

4. In power-transmitting apparatus, an epicyclic or differential trainhaving, in combination with main belt-wheels rotating in parallel planesand turning loosely upon a shaft, two sets of intermediate belt-wheelsfixed to arms projecting in opposite directions from the shaft, suchintermediate wheels being placed tangential to the main wheels, and an5. I11 power-transmitting apparatus involv ing an epicyclic ordifferential train having belt-connections between the Wheels, the com-'bination of a plurality of belts and corresponding sets of wheels,substantially as set forth.

6. In power-transmitting apparatus involving an epicyclic ordifferential train having belt-connections between the wheels, thecombination of a plurality of belts and corresponding sets of wheels,the wheels of the two or more sets being of different sizes, with thesmaller wheels located within the larger wheels, substantially as setforth.

7. In power-transmitting apparatus, the combination of a driven shaftwith an epi-. cyclic or differential train having belt-connected wheelsmounted thereon, a driving motor, connections from the motor to the twosides of the epicyclic train, and meansforvarying one of suchconnections, substantially as set forth.

S; In .powertransmitting apparatus, the combination of a driven shaftwith an epicyclic or differential train having belt-connected wheelsmounted thereon, a drivingmotor, connections from the motor to the twosides of the epicyclic train, one of such connections being formed byexpanding pulleys, and means for adjusting such pulleys simultaneouslyin opposite directions, substantially as set forth.

9. In power-transmitting apparatus, the combination of a driven shaftwith an epicyclic or dilferential train mounted thereon and having anadditional intermediate element in the connection between the mainWheels of the train, a driving-motor, similar connections from the motorto the main wheels of the epicyclic train, so as to drive such mainwheels in the same direction, and means for Varying one of suchconnections, substantially as set forth.

10. In power-transmitting apparatus, the combination of a driven shaftwith an epicyclic or difierential train mounted thereon and havingbelt-connected wheels and an additional intermediate element in theconnection between the main wheels of the train, a driving-motor,similar connections from the motor to the main wheels of the epioyolictrain, so as to drive such main wheels inthe same direction, and meansfor varying one of such connections, substantially as set forth.

This specification signed and witnessed this 2d day of June, 1890.

THOS. A. EDISON. Witnesses:

RICHARD N. DYER, THOS. 1VIAGUIRE.

